Resultats de la cerca

Investors continued to err on the side of caution during the last session of the week, with sentiment impaired by data releases pointing to lingering inflationary pressures and the likely need for further monetary policy tightening.

Risk aversion returned to the fore on Tuesday after CPI inflation surprised to the upside in the US, fueling a new upward revision in investors’ expectations about the pace of monetary policy tightening by the Federal Reserve.

Investors continued to trade with a cautious approach at the start of the week, with risk appetite overshadowed by fears of persistent inflationary pressures and a global recession. UK markets remained in focus, after the pound fell near parity against the USD and bond yields surged as the government reiterated plans to cut taxes.

Volatility remained elevated across financial markets, with investors keeping the focus on the mix of monetary and fiscal policy across advanced economies, more notably in the UK. On the data front, growth in house prices in the US slowed down in July while US consumer confidence improved for a second month in a row in September.

Most of the developed stock markets kept registering small gains yesterday while yields on sovereign bonds picked up. In the U.S., the yield on the 10-year Treasury increased by 7 basis points and reached 2.55% for the first time in more than 9 months.

Comments by central bankers centered the stage at the start of the week in a session with no relevant economic data releases. In the euro area Christine Lagarde reiterated that a rate hike in 2022 is "very unlikely" even if the current inflation spike might be higher and longer than initially expected.

Financial markets started the week with a subdued risk appetite. Sovereign bond yields rose across the board in developed markets. The sold off started in Japan, where it seems increasingly likely that the BoJ could rise rates in December. In both Europe and the US, November ISM and PMI data showed protracted weakness in manufacturing.

The Fed delivered a hawkish pause yesterday, leaving interest rates unchanged but acknowledging a strong US economy. The dot-plot projects a tighter policy through 2024 and 2025, consistent with rates higher for longer. US stock indices fell and US Treasury yields rose on the news, with the yield curve flattening, while the USD appreciated.

Markets ended the week on a negative mood, following the release of weaker than expected employment data in the US (non-farm payrolls rose by 235k in August after 1,053k in July). The disappointing figures could well postpone a decision by the Fed to taper its asset purchases for later this year.

In yesterday’s session, the US CPI data for December centered the stage and confirmed the downward trend kicked off last summer. In particular, the headline index fell by 0.1% m/m and the core measure rose by 0.3%. On year-on-year terms, inflation eased to 6.5% (headline) and 5.7% (core), both in line with consensus expectations.

In the first trading session of the year, stock markets rose in the U.S. and they were mixed in Europe, declining in core countries and advancing in the Euro Area periphery.

In the last trading session before Christmas, stock markets declined and long-term sovereign yields remained stable (with the exception of Portugal, whose risk premium undid part of the week's strong decline as investors are still calibrating the implications of the improved sovereign rating)

European investors began the week with a risk-off tone, as US markets were closed for the Martin Luther King holiday. Sentiment deteriorated after Trump announced plans to impose new tariffs on European countries siding with Denmark in the Greenland dispute and the EU hinted at possible retaliation.

In yesterday’s session, investors traded cautiously as they awaited  key economic data later this week (US CPI inflation) and the ECB monetary policy decision on Thursday. The main economic event yesterday was the downward revision of the European Commission’s summer GDP forecasts.

Investors shifted gears across asset classes on Friday, as the US employment report showed robust job growth in May for a third month in a row. The resilient labour market and inflation risks led markets to fully price in a Fed rate hike by year‑end. US Treasury yields rose accordingly, especially at the short end, further flattening the curve.

Yesterday's session was a volatile one, as news from progress in the negotiations around the conflict in the Middle East came in both directions, moving energy prices and the rest of asset prices. Brent prices closed up by more than 2%, at USD 112/barrel, while TTF prices ended the session flat at EUR 50/MWh.

Financial markets ended Friday on a mixed note ahead of a long weekend in the US, where markets are closed today for Martin Luther King Day. US Treasury yields moved higher following mixed macro data: industrial production rose, while the NAHB Index signaled continued weakness in housing construction. European sovereign yields also edged up, with the French spread widening after PM Lecornu announced it will amend again the budget draft to secure parliamentary approval.

Investors started the week trading with appetite for risk, taking position ahead of the CPI inflation report for August in the US, to be released today. According to the Consensus, CPI inflation is expected to have eased to 8.1% y/y (from 8.5%), which, if confirmed, could reduce some pressure on the Fed for continuing hiking policy rates aggressively.